Much has been said about Mark Pope’s difficulty securing a top-tier recruit during his tenure at Kentucky. That criticism has become especially pronounced this offseason, as the Tyran Stokes and Donnie Freeman sagas have fueled frustration among both fans and detractors.
However, one high-profile option still in play for Kentucky could, in the view of many, erase those recruiting concerns entirely if he commits to the Wildcats: standout scoring forward Milan Momcilovic.
Kentucky’s pursuit of Momcilovic has flown somewhat under the radar, as the program along with every other interested school had to wait for his NBA Draft decision. That wait is now over, and the race is officially underway.
According to Jon Rothstein on X, Momcilovic will officially remove his name from the NBA Draft and enter the transfer portal. Let the battle begin; the NIL chips will fall where they may.
The Race for Momcilovic Is On
With a rumored price tag reportedly climbing into the millions and numerous suitors scrambling to gain an edge, Momcilovic’s decision to return to college basketball has thrown the doors wide open.
Per Jeff Goodman, not only is Kentucky heavily involved, but Louisville (greedy, if you ask me), St. John’s, and Arizona are also expected to pursue the three-point specialist. Given that Arizona’s Koa Peat is staying in the draft, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Wildcats make an especially aggressive push.
But Kentucky should be right in the thick of it, and there’s every reason to expect them to compete. The Wildcats have remaining NIL funds and a starting lineup spot that seems almost tailor-made for Momcilovic.
An Obvious Fit
Add in Coach Pope’s affinity for three-point shooting within his offensive system, and you have a fit so logical it almost feels too good to be true. Perhaps that skepticism stems from Kentucky’s recurring struggles to land big names in these situations, but I’ll set that aside in the interest of optimism.
Now, while we enter another waiting period as Momcilovic weighs his commitment decision, this one should move much faster than the last. With summer quickly progressing and rosters taking shape, it shouldn’t be long before the 17-points-per-game, 48% three-point shooter makes his call.
The Wildcats ought to be knocking on his door as we speak. We’ll be monitoring this closely in the coming days, with all our fingers firmly crossed.
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